Around town in East County

Concerts on the Green: 6 to 8 p.m. each Friday through Sept. 30 at Prescott Promenade, across from the El Cajon City Hall, 200 Civic Center Way. The Mardels will perform this week. The concert season also includes activities and vendors. Free. Information: (619) 401-8858 or downtownelcajon.com.

San Diego River Run: 8 a.m. May 7 at Lakeside Baseball Park, 10030 Marathon Parkway, Lakeside. This annual 5k run/walk is on a new course this year and allows participants to get a preview of trails that will connect the existing trail to the baseball fields. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the San Diego River. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Information: (619) 443-4770 or lakesideriverpark.org.

Exhibit: 10 a.m. to noon May 7 at the Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. “H20: The Art of Conservation” is a collaboration between San Diego Fine Art Society and the garden that asked 14 local artists to create works based on water conservation using recyclec, re-purposed or untraditional materials. Proceeds will benefit both organizations. Donations requested. Information: thegarden.org.

Casino night: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. May 7 at Knights of Columbus Hall, St. John of the Cross, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove. The Knights of Columbus, San Miguel Council and Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove present this casino event with bingo, craps, blackjack, roulette, a silent auction and raffles. Admission is $15 and provides $300 in poker chips and one bingo card, with additional chips and cards available for purchase. Chicken dinners are $10. Information: (619) 469-7350.

Sage and Songbird Festival and Garden Tour: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7 and 8 at the Viejas Outlet Center, 5005 Willows Road, Alpine. (The garden tour is May 6 to 8 and features bird- and butterfly-friendly private home gardens and a plant sale. Tickets are $15 per person.) The festival features a butterfly release, vendors, plant sales, educational programs, art display, hummingbird and birds-of-prey displays, caterpillar races, reptiles, prizes and other activities. Free. Information: (619) 445-7675 or chirp.org.

Spoken-word performance: 7 p.m. May 5 in room 200 of building 26 at Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon. Patricia Smith, a repeated winner of the National Poetry Slam competition and author of “Blood Dazzler,” which chronicles the affects of Hurricane Katrina on the lives of victims. Free. Information: (619) 644-7523 or grossmont.edu/english/festival.

First Friday breakfast: 7:15 a.m. May 6 at Cuyamaca College student center, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon. San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. An update on the “State of Our Region” from elected officials. Information: (619) 440-6161.

Open house: 10:30 a.m. to noon May 6 at the East Region Public Health Center, 460 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 110, El Cajon. Opening of the new health clinic. Information: (619) 441-6500.

Tours of the Knox House Museum: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at 280 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. Learn about El Cajon’s first businessman and how he and his family lived in the 1890s. Free. Information: (619) 444-3800 or elcajonhistory.org.

Cajon Classic Cruise: 5 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday through Oct. 26 on East Main Street at Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon. The weekly car show features hundreds of classic, custom and hotrod cars and motorcycles, vendors, food, DJs, live entertainment and theme nights. Free. Information: (619) 401-8858 or downtownelcajon.com.

Tours of the Heritage of the Americas Museum: noon each Saturday at the museum, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free. Information: (619) 670-5194 or www.cuyamaca.edu/museum.

Lake Murray walking trail: 4 p.m. each Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. each Saturday. Led by the Widow or Widower (WOW) Club of San Diego. Call for directions to the meeting location. Information: (619) 644-5318 or (619) 466-0232.

Support group: 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meetings are open to anyone over 7 years old; support group to help lose weight and keep it off. Information: (619) 562-4966 or tops.org.